Improvement in adjustable links



UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. E. THOMPSON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT vIN ADJUSTABLE LINKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,118, dated August 5, 1862.

To. a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES J. E. THOMP- SON, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and Improved Connecting-Link; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figures l and 2 are inner face views of the two parts of the link 5 Fig. 3, an edge view of one of the same; Fig. 4, an edge view of the link complete; Fig. 5, a side view of the same.

Similar letters of' reference indicate correj sponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a link which may be immediately applied to a chain as a substitute for a broken link, or be used to connect any detached parts which are Connected by a link or links, and which may break or casually give way.

The invention consists in forming the link of two equal parts fitted together, substantially as hereinafter fully shown and described, whereby the link may be readily applied to the parts to be connected and readily detached therefrom.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

The link may be of the usual oval or elliptical form, and is composed of two equal parts, A A,which are shown in Figs. l and 2. These parts are precisely alike in every respect, and so far as contour is concerned may be described as being formed by splitting an ordinary oval link longitudinally and centrally through its sides, or instead of resembling such split the parts might be so made as to resemble a spiral split, which would be perhaps a stronger form. The parts A A, however, are made separately, and each is provided on its face surface at one side with a semi-cylindrical lug or projection, a; and at the opposite side there is an opening, b, of such a width that it may receive the lug a of its fellow part A when the two parts are fitted together, as shown in Fig. 4. Each part A has also at its face side two pins or projections, c o, of rectangular or other proper form. These pins c c are near the edges of the opening b, and two recesses, d d, are made in each part near its lug a, the recesses of one part A being sufficiently large to receive the pins of its fellow part. The outer sides ofthe partsA Aare rounded, so that when the parts are fitted together a transverse section of the link will be of circular form. f

-When the parts A A are fitted together, the lug a of one part being in the opening b of the other part, and the pins c c of one part in the recesses d 'd of the other, it will be seen that the link will be fully protected against all longitudinal strain or pull to which it may be subjected, the pins c c holding the ends of each part formed by the opening b,which openings are necessary in order to admit of the parts being adjusted in the links or staples which they are to connect.

From the above description it will be seen that a very strong link is obtained and one that may be readily applied to the parts it is designed to connect, and also readily detached therefrom. No riveting or manipulation of any kind is necessarily required to hold the two parts A Atogether; but in cases where a permanent fastening is preferable or desired 'the sides of the openingsb may be made a little beveled or inclined to admit of the ends of the lugs a being hammered over to form a dovetailjoint, as Shown at b in Fig 4.

The parts A A may be of malleable castiron. That would probably be the most preferable material, although I do not 'conne myself to a particular metal or Inode of forming the parts. They Inay be forged, cast, or swaged by means of dies.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Having the link made in two equal parts, A, the faces of which are provided with openings b and projections a, which t and operate together in the manner herein shown and described.

CHARLES J. E. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

WM. FIELD, H. C. FIELD. 

